Allelic Variation of VRN-1 Locus in Iranian Wheat Landraces

Wheat is a crop with spring and winter types and wide adaptability to different climate conditions. The wide adaptability of wheat is mainly controlled by three groups of genetic factors and among them vernalization (VRN) genes play pivotal role in determining spring and winter types. In this study, 395 Iranian wheat landraces were characterized with specific primer pairs designed based on VRN-1 promoter and intron regions. Using the specific primers for Vrn-A1c allele, two fragments were amplified in 35 genotypes. Based on MADS-Box and promoter regions of VRN-1 gene specific primers, two new fragments were amplified in Iranian wheat landraces which has not been reported previously. Vrn-A1b allele determining spring habit was the most frequent allele, whereas Vrn-A1c showed less frequency. Frequency of dominant allele Vrn-A1b, in winter genotypes was higher than that of spring type. It supports the presence of other regulatory sites outside of the VRN promoter region.